Our Team

Helena Berger

Helena Berger has been a disability-rights advocate for over 30 years. She is the immediate past President & CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD).

Under Ms. Berger’s leadership, she helped transform AAPD into one of the nation’s leading cross-disability civil rights organizations advocating for the full recognition of rights for the over 60 million Americans with disabilities. Ms. Berger is a mission-focused, seasoned, strategic, and process minded leader with experience scaling an organization, leading an executive team, and developing a performance culture among a diverse group of individuals.

Prior to joining AAPD, Ms. Berger was the Advocacy Director for the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association (EPVA); renamed United Spinal Association in 2005. Under her direction, EPVA’s advocacy program significantly expanded its public education and community outreach activities aimed at raising awareness of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Consequently, she has extensive experience in designing and implementing grassroots programs and working effectively with non-governmental organizations, community and business leaders, and public officials and entities to increase the rights, opportunities, and inclusion of disabled Americans.

Ms. Berger’s international disability rights work includes being a feature speaker for the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Information Programs. She has spoken with government and disability-rights leaders in Mongolia, Nepal, Cyprus, and Japan, and traveled to Vietnam, Jordan, the West Bank, and Uzbekistan to help advance disability rights and inclusion.

Ms. Berger currently serves as Chair of the FDR Memorial Legacy Committee’s Board of Directors; Vice Chair of Children of Vietnam’s Board of Directors; and is Co-founder and Co-chair of REV UP (Register! Educate! Vote! Use your Power!) Virginia.

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What’s Happening

  • Virginia’s 2026 Election Results
    Read a news article with results from the November 3, 2026 General Election, when Virginia voters cast ballots for a U.S. Senator and their representative to the U.S. House. Voters also approved three amendments to the Virginia Constitution.
  • Lyft’s 2026 Voting Access Program
    On Election Day, November 3, 2026, the rideshare company Lyft is offering 50% off (up to $10 off) on a ride to your polling location with VOTE26, a public discount code. Lyft will also honor the code for a ride on November 3, 2026 to a registered dropbox location.
  • Questions or problems voting? Call or text a nonpartisan hotline!
    If you are having trouble voting, or just have questions, you can call or text a hotline to call a trained Election Protection volunteer. You can also use WhatsApp, Facebook, and email to send a message. If you use ASL, the National Association of the Deaf operates an ASL Voter Assistance Hotline.
All Recent News

  • Virginia’s 2026 Election Results

    Read a news article with results from the November 3, 2026 General Election, when Virginia voters cast ballots for a U.S. Senator and their representative to the U.S. House. Voters also approved three amendments to the Virginia Constitution.

  • Lyft’s 2026 Voting Access Program

    On Election Day, November 3, 2026, the rideshare company Lyft is offering 50% off (up to $10 off) on a ride to your polling location with VOTE26, a public discount code. Lyft will also honor the code for a ride on November 3, 2026 to a registered dropbox location.

  • Questions or problems voting? Call or text a nonpartisan hotline!

    If you are having trouble voting, or just have questions, you can call or text a hotline to call a trained Election Protection volunteer. You can also use WhatsApp, Facebook, and email to send a message. If you use ASL, the National Association of the Deaf operates an ASL Voter Assistance Hotline.

  • The Virginian-Pilot: Disability advocates say ballot question could right past wrong on voting

    The November 3, 2026 ballot contains three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution. This article provides insight from the disability community on Question 3, which, if approved by voters, would enshrine voting in the Virginia Constitution as a fundamental right.

  • Protect the Right to Vote in Virginia: Volunteers Needed!

    Volunteer with the Virginia Election Protection Coalition, the largest nonpartisan voter protection effort in the Commonwealth. Protecting access to the ballot box is critical. Your help is needed to ensure that every eligible Virginian can exercise their right to vote.

  • Volunteer to survey polling locations for accessibility

    Each year, disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV) volunteers help ensure that polling locations across Virginia are accessible to all voters. You are invited to join them. You can survey your own polling location to check its accessibility. You can also sign up to survey other polling locations.

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